Residents let legislators know their positions

Published: Friday, July 19, 2013 at 12:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, July 18, 2013 at 11:16 a.m.

Four Davidson County residents took advantage of an American's freedom to protest government action by traveling to Raleigh recently. They took very different approaches, too: One was arrested during the ongoing Moral Monday protests while the other three met individually with legislators. Yet both achieved their goals of making their voices heard to elected leaders.

Both stories appeared in The Dispatch on Thursday. One featured Bill Weldon, a former Thomasville lawyer. Concerned over the new policies and laws being passed by the Republican-led Legislature, Weldon became one of more than 800 people arrested at the Moral Monday protests, organized by the state NAACP. Reaction to the protests has been predictably divided, with those who favor the legislative changes criticizing them while those in opposition view them more favorably.

Sen. Stan Bingham, R-Davidson, who can be classified as a very reasonable politician not known for being stridently partisan, did offer some criticism of the Moral Monday protests. He would prefer those who disagree with policies sit down and talk to legislators. And while he believes legislators will listen, protesters would say their actions show that's not the case. Sometimes it takes a more extreme approach, and being arrested certainly qualifies. That should always be a last resort, but many of the protesters believe that's the present situation.

The other three county residents took the approach preferred by Bingham. Teachers DeeDee Enrlich, Carmen Schoepske and Andrea Brune spoke with Bingham and other legislators about their concerns for the educational system. In particular, they asked legislators to keep supplement pay for teachers with master's degrees and funding for teacher assistants and not increase class sizes. "We feel like teachers really need to let their voice be heard," Ehrlich said.

That reasoning could be applied to any group that feels strongly about an issue. It's taking place in Lexington concerning the proposed Park Place Historical District and the resurfacing of Main Street. It's happening in Davidson County concerning a new high school for the northern part of the county and a proposed shooting range in the southern part. Citizens have a number of ways to express their feelings, including calls, letters and emails to elected officials; attending public meetings and even speaking there; writing letters to the editor and contributing to online forums; and displaying signs showing their position, among others.

The important thing is to participate in the process. Concerned citizens may not agree with every decision politicians make, but they can feel a sense of satisfaction when they did their part to make their voices heard.

<p>Four Davidson County residents took advantage of an American's freedom to protest government action by traveling to Raleigh recently. They took very different approaches, too: One was arrested during the ongoing Moral Monday protests while the other three met individually with legislators. Yet both achieved their goals of making their voices heard to elected leaders.</p><p>Both stories appeared in The Dispatch on Thursday. One featured Bill Weldon, a former Thomasville lawyer. Concerned over the new policies and laws being passed by the Republican-led Legislature, Weldon became one of more than 800 people arrested at the Moral Monday protests, organized by the state NAACP. Reaction to the protests has been predictably divided, with those who favor the legislative changes criticizing them while those in opposition view them more favorably.</p><p>Sen. Stan Bingham, R-Davidson, who can be classified as a very reasonable politician not known for being stridently partisan, did offer some criticism of the Moral Monday protests. He would prefer those who disagree with policies sit down and talk to legislators. And while he believes legislators will listen, protesters would say their actions show that's not the case. Sometimes it takes a more extreme approach, and being arrested certainly qualifies. That should always be a last resort, but many of the protesters believe that's the present situation.</p><p>The other three county residents took the approach preferred by Bingham. Teachers DeeDee Enrlich, Carmen Schoepske and Andrea Brune spoke with Bingham and other legislators about their concerns for the educational system. In particular, they asked legislators to keep supplement pay for teachers with master's degrees and funding for teacher assistants and not increase class sizes. "We feel like teachers really need to let their voice be heard," Ehrlich said.</p><p>That reasoning could be applied to any group that feels strongly about an issue. It's taking place in Lexington concerning the proposed Park Place Historical District and the resurfacing of Main Street. It's happening in Davidson County concerning a new high school for the northern part of the county and a proposed shooting range in the southern part. Citizens have a number of ways to express their feelings, including calls, letters and emails to elected officials; attending public meetings and even speaking there; writing letters to the editor and contributing to online forums; and displaying signs showing their position, among others.</p><p>The important thing is to participate in the process. Concerned citizens may not agree with every decision politicians make, but they can feel a sense of satisfaction when they did their part to make their voices heard.</p>